In keeping with the City of Saskatoon’s commitment to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada’s Calls to Action #57, the City has launched a new, downloadable resource to enhance our understanding of Aboriginal culture and practices, called ayisinowak [a/ee/see/ni/wak, Cree for ‘the people’]: A Communications Guide [ka-isi-pikiskwatoyahk, Cree for ‘the people are communicating’].

The Guide is intended to provide individuals with a basic outline of Aboriginal protocol and governance systems in order to facilitate improved relationship building either as co-workers, through business opportunities or through inclusion in specific projects.

The framework for the Guide was made possible, in part, through a summer employment partnership opportunity with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and was developed through an internal collaboration between the Regional Planning, Aboriginal Relations and Communications Divisions.  The team then partnered with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC) and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) who provided valuable information on First Nation meeting etiquette, protocols and ceremonial traditions.  The content is presented as an adaptive and living document that will continue to develop as our relationships and understanding grows.